Elizabeth Smart Kidnapping Documentaries: Her True Survival Story and Streams to Watch Now
Elizabeth Smart's abduction captured global attention in 2002, and various films have since explored the events.
These productions draw from her personal accounts, family insights, and official records to reveal what happened during those nine months.
With new releases bringing fresh perspectives like the one on Netflix, viewers can access a range of titles that highlight her resilience and the investigation's twists.
The Abduction and Captivity Details
On June 5, 2002, a 14-year-old girl named Elizabeth Smart vanished from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A man named Brian David Mitchell entered the home through a cut screen window and took her at knifepoint while her younger sister, Mary Katherine, lay frozen in fear nearby.
Mitchell, who had briefly worked as a handyman for the Smart family under the alias Immanuel, believed he followed a divine command to make Elizabeth his wife.
He marched her into the nearby woods, where he and his wife, Wanda Barzee, held her captive in a makeshift camp.
During her ordeal, Elizabeth endured repeated sexual assaults, starvation, and psychological torment.
Mitchell used religious justifications to control her, often chaining her to a tree or forcing her into degrading acts.
Barzee participated in the abuse, sometimes withholding food or water as punishment.
Elizabeth wore disguises like robes and veils when Mitchell moved the group to avoid detection, and he once attempted to kidnap another relative but failed.
Her sister Mary Katherine later recalled Mitchell's voice, which helped create a police sketch broadcast on shows like America's Most Wanted.
The massive search involved thousands of volunteers, media coverage, and law enforcement scrutiny of the family.
Early suspicions fell on a parolee named Richard Ricci, who died in custody from a brain aneurysm, shifting focus elsewhere.
Elizabeth played a role in her own escape by convincing Mitchell to return to Salt Lake City, claiming a divine revelation.
On March 12, 2003, passersby spotted the trio in Sandy, Utah, and alerted authorities.
Police separated Elizabeth, who confirmed her identity, leading to Mitchell and Barzee's arrest.
Mitchell received a life sentence in 2010 for kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines for sexual purposes, while Barzee served 15 years and gained release in 2018 after pleading guilty.
Elizabeth's story underscores themes of survival through inner strength, as she often drew on family memories and faith to endure.
Major Documentaries and Films on the Case
Several works have documented Elizabeth's experience, each offering unique angles from dramatizations to personal narratives.
These range from early TV movies to recent features with her direct involvement, and you can feel and watch her real kidnapping story through these documentaries in detail.
1. The Elizabeth Smart Story (2003)
This made-for-TV film aired on CBS just eight months after Elizabeth's rescue. It focuses on the family's perspective during the search, based on the book Bringing Elizabeth Home by her parents, Ed and Lois Smart.
The plot traces the abduction, the intense media scrutiny, and the investigation's dead ends, including the Ricci suspect and Mary Katherine's delayed identification of Mitchell.
Dylan Baker stars as Ed Smart, Lindsay Frost as Lois Smart, and Amber Marshall as Elizabeth. Other cast members include Tom Everett as Mitchell and Hollis McLaren as Barzee.
Directed by Bobby Roth, the movie emphasizes the emotional toll on the family and ends with Elizabeth's reunion, noting her return to school and the captors' charges.
2. Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography (2017)
A&E's two-part special lets Elizabeth narrate her abduction in her own words, sharing untold details about the nine months of captivity and abuse by a self-proclaimed prophet.
At age 29 during production, she discusses her survival mindset, post-rescue recovery, marriage, motherhood, and advocacy.
The series includes interviews with family, investigators, and eyewitnesses, providing fresh insights into the case. It connects to other content like the Lifetime movie I Am Elizabeth Smart, available for streaming on related platforms.
3. I Am Elizabeth Smart (2017)
Lifetime's authorized biopic, produced with Elizabeth's input, recounts the kidnapping from her viewpoint. Alana Boden plays Elizabeth, Skeet Ulrich portrays Mitchell, and Deirdre Lovejoy is Barzee.
Elizabeth narrates on-screen, exploring how she survived starvation, rape, and rituals while confronting myths about her experience.
Directed by Sarah Walker, the film highlights her agency in the rescue and pairs with A&E's documentary special. It aired to mark the 15th anniversary of her rescue.
4. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart (2026)
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| Credit: Elizabeth Smart / Instagram / Netflix |
Netflix's latest Elizabeth Smart documentary, released January 21, 2026, uses Elizabeth's words and unseen footage to trace the abduction from her Utah home.
The true crime documentary examines the psychological impact on her and her family, the media storm, and the community's search.
Interviews include Elizabeth, her father Ed, sister Mary Katherine, the police, and journalists.
It reveals her fear during the first assault, Mitchell's religious delusions, and her strategic role in returning to Salt Lake City.
Rated TV-MA, it falls under documentary and true crime genres, with audio in multiple languages including English originals and descriptions.
Watch this quick captioned video on this documentary (was posted on Elizabeth Smart's Instagram account):
Other Related Productions
Titles like Beyond the Headlines: The Elizabeth Thomas Story with Elizabeth Smart (Hulu) feature her interviewing other survivors, while Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart (Prime Video) offers episode-based retellings.
These expand on themes of grooming and recovery.
Elizabeth Smart's Life and Advocacy Today
After her rescue, Elizabeth completed high school, earned a music degree from Brigham Young University, and married Matthew Gilmour in 2012.
They have three children and live in Utah, enjoying family outings, skiing, and cabin trips.
She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to support sexual violence victims and has authored memoirs like My Story and Where There's Hope.
Her work promotes education on abduction prevention and survivor empowerment.
Elizabeth speaks publicly, sharing how she overcame guilt and fear to build a fulfilling life.
Where to Stream and Watch?
Here's a list of platforms where you can watch Elizabeth Smart's documentaries:
| Title | Platform | Availability Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Elizabeth Smart Story (2003) | Netflix, YouTube (full movie) | Free with ads on some sites; runtime 120 minutes |
| Elizabeth Smart: Autobiography (2017) | A&E app, Prime Video | Two-part series; HD episodes available |
| I Am Elizabeth Smart (2017) | Lifetime app, Hulu | Full movie; streams with subscription |
| Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart (2026) | Netflix | Exclusive; multilingual audio options |
You should always check regional access, as some platforms require subscriptions.
For social media updates, Elizabeth's X account shares advocacy posts.
Impact of Her Story on Society
Elizabeth's case influenced laws like the AMBER Alert system enhancements and discussions on child safety.
Films about her experience raise awareness of religious extremism in abductions and the long-term effects on survivors.
Viewers of the Elizabeth Smart documentary often find inspiration in her journey from victim to advocate, as she continues to support others through her foundation and public speaking.
